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H. C. SWAN. STILT.

(N0 Model.)

Patented Feb. 16, 1892.

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UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

IIENRY C. SIVAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

STILT.

SPZECIFIIGATION forming part of' Letters Patent No. 469,102, dated February 16, 1892.

Application filed July 21, 1891. Serial No. 400,229. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. SWAN, of IVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stilts, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive and durable stilt adapted to permit vertical adjustment of the foot-piece or step without the employment of tools or implements for that purpose.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a stilt in accordance with my invention, a section of the stick being indicated in dotted lines and the internal wedge and thumb-screw being omitted. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, the internal wedge and thumb-screw being shown in place.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the wooden stick or staff, and B the adjustable step mounted thereon. The step, which is cast complete in one piece, comprises the socket or band b, adapted to'l encircle the stick, and the outreaching arm or step proper b. The stick is commonly made of rectangular cross-section and of uniform size and adapted to slide with reasonable freedom through the socket.

C represents a wedge-shaped plate of increasing thickness from the upper to the lower end, which is seated within the rear side of the socket between its rear wall and the face of the stick and provided with one or more studs or projections c, adapted to enter and to firmly engage the wood. By forcing or driving the step downward upon the stick it is caused to ride over the wedge, which, being held at rest by its studs or projections, causes the front wall of the socket to be drawn rmly against the stick, so that further downward movement of -the step' is impossible. As an additional precaution and to prevent the possibility of the step being driven downward too far, the wedge may be provided on its lower end with the lip or shoulder c to serve as a support for the step. This lip may extend the entire width of the wedge or it may be formed at its center to enter a notch d in the lower edge of the rear wall of the socket b, as shown in Fig. l. To prevent the accidental loss of the wedge its upper end may be turned outward in the form of a lip c2, as shown in the drawings.

In order to change the position of the step, it is only necessary to first drive it upward op the stick, which may be readily done by inverting the stick and rapping the same end- Wise upon the ground. The result' of this action is to release the step from the locking effect of the wedge, so that the latter may then be moved along the stick to the desired position and the step again fastened by crowding it endwise. I prefer to provide the step on its upper surface with a cushion D, of soft rubber, leather, or other suitable material, roughened or serrated on its upper surface and retained in place by rivets d or other suitable fastenings. In order to give additional stability to the step, I prefer to form it, as shown, with an arm h2, extending downward on the inner or front face of the stick, so as to afford a long bearing. The lower end of this arm may be provided, as shown in Fig. 2, with a V-shaped notch in the lower end, that it may set astride of a movable thumbscrew e, seated in the stick. This screw will serve to prevent the step from rocking or tipping edgewise in the event of the wood shrinking, so as to fit loosely within the stick.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isd- 1. In a step for a stilt, the combination, with a step having a socket to encircle the stick, of an independent wedge adapted to be inserted within the socket in engagement with the stick, substantially as described.

2. In a step for a stilt,'the combination of the step having the socket to encircle the stick, and the internal wedge having a proj ection toengage the stick and a shoulder c to sustain the step proper. p

3. In a stilt, the combination of the stick, the sliding step adapted to encircle the stick, and the intermediate wedge provided with a projection to engage the stick.

4. In a stilt, the combination of the stickh the sliding step adapted to encircle the same,

the depending arm thereon provided at its lower end with a notch adapted to set astride In testimony whereof I hereunto set my a serew'on the-stick, and the Wedge-adapted hand, this 10th (lay of July, 1891, in the pres` to be inserted within the socket in enga-geence of two attesting witnesses.

ment with the stiek,w'hereby the step may be Y HENRY C. SWAN. 5 lifted froln engagement with the screw with- Witnesses:

out removing the latter and rocking of the W. R. KENNEDY,

step prevented. A I?. T. DODGE. 

